(RNN) - Media invitations to the release of new iPad Mini will go out on Oct. 10 with the official unveiling to occur Oct. 17, according to a report in Fortune. That would mean the much-anticipated new tablet computer would become available on Nov. 2, in time for holiday shoppers.

Rumors about the release of a smaller, cheaper iPad have been circulating for months. Anticipation heated up early in September when a Chinese blog called bolopad.com released what it said were photos of the finished product.

Fortune cited an unnamed Apple investor who said he had heard about the release from a number of sources.

The photos show a 7.85" device that strongly resembles the iPad, which has a 9.7" screen. The purported Mini has a similar screen with the familiar aluminum back. The screen is surrounded by a black bezel with the home button located at the bottom of the screen, just like the original iPad. It also appears to have a back-facing camera.